Hersey Debaters Place Second at Stevenson Invitational

Hersey High School’s Huskie debaters brought home a second place team trophy from the Stevenson High School Invitational Tournament held two weeks ago. The trophy was the first team award of the young forensic season.

Leading the Huskies was junior Ben Goldberg, who won the Critics Choice award in his chamber. The Critics trophy is awarded to the student with the highest point total in the chamber.

Junior Mike Miller took home his first gavel of the season for Best Presiding Officer. Also in the same chamber junior Dan Niersbach won a first-place Speaker Award in his first tournament.

Coach Jack Stanislaw noted, “Dan was so nervous in the first session on Friday, we did nothing. But on Saturday we got into it.”

Junior Melanie Cohodes won a second place Speaker in her chamber. The Huskies speakers showed depth with sophomore Logan Maurer and juniors Joshua George and Greg Spann, who earned nominations for their speeches. Six of the 10 participants earned trophies or nominations.

Hersey practices a form of debate entitled Congressional debate, in which the students simulate a session of the legislature. Students write the legislation, preside in the chamber, vote on bills, and choose which bills to debate, just as they do in the national Congress. Students must master 12 bills for each tournament with topics such as reinstating the Glass-Steagull Act, punishing texting and driving, reforming Pakistani education. The Hersey debaters will travel to Hoffman Estates High School on Saturday, Nov. 10, for their next contest.